Season 36 NL South Preview

Houston Astros

Season 35:  98-64, won Division, advanced to NLCS, lost WS in 7 to Boston

GM:  steelforge

Offseason:  lost RF Dennis Smith (.282/18/74) and 3B Walker Cather (.260/19/57) in FA - significant but manageable.

Trades:  the big one was SP Alex Martin (9-10. 4.53 ERA in 143 IP) and SS Francisco Lopez (.237/7/32) to Seattle for slugging IF Jason Bravo (.252/44/95) and OF Gerald Crane (.280/33/101)...A+ for the Astros and Martin will be much better in Seattle. Also moved C Jake Treanor (.215/6/12) to St. Louis for closer Troy Griffith (4-4, 3.63 in 72 IP); 1B/OF Vin Almonte (.221/12/31) and rubber-armed RP Mitch Mirabelli (11-4, 2.50 ERA in 176 IP) to Montreal for yet another power bat in Danny Barr (.267/23/55); and a couple of minor-leaguers to Toronto for CF Bruce Smith (.240/15/60).

To top off the overhaul they signed FA 2B Bill Matthews (.273/2/30),  SP Jim Colin (11-9, 3.44 in 211 IP),  and RP's Jamie Aldridge (3-5, 4.40 in 61 IP) and Len Connelly (3-5, 3.23 in 47 IP).

Outlook:  Houston was below the league average in both runs (632 - 8th) and homers (169 - 9th)...the additions of Bravo, Barr and Crane should remedy that.  The league leading (3.06 ERA) pitching staff will only be better with the addition of Colin, Aldridge, Griffin and Connelly.  It looks like they're going with a 4-man rotation, but they'll have plenty of innings available: they have no less than 5 relievers with 30_ stamina.

This is going to be a very tough team to score on and their great pitching will get better run support.

Atlanta Braves

Season 35: 95-67, Wild Card, lost in 1st Round to Colorado

GM: majnun

Offseason:   Lost FA's SP Paxton Buhner(17-12, 3.54 in 224 IP) and RP Ray Ferrell (18 saves, 3.04 in 56 IP).  Signed OF Yuniesky Nunez (.227/5/23) and SP Deleanor Morehead (9-11, 4.80 in 168 IP).

Trades:  Moved SP John Hubbard (11-10, 4.59 in 153 IP) to Seattle for a pair of minor-leaguers; sent power-hitting IF Richard Mohr (.224/31/64) to KC for OF Vin Alexander (.248/7/46); and gave up on trying to fit DH's into an NL Lineup (Rudy House and Kendry Fernandez to Cleveland).

Outlook:  The Braves' offseason moves had a distinct "addition by subtraction" feel: Mohr has been a great player for them but he's at the stage where his power, range and arm strength are about to nose dive.  Likewise the dump of the 2 DH's - with scoring as low as it is in this world it's hard to risk having DH's boot away runs on an NL roster.  

Atlanta returns one of the NL's top offenses - it's a long ball-belting lineup (263 HR's, tops in NL) led by 1B Nick Hogan (.298/45/106), C Brad Leach (.265/40/105) and still-electrifying RF Freddie Lanning (.269/30/111, 38 SB).  Glenn Hewson comes in from CF to replace Mohr - even though he's not a power guy he OPS'd .759 to Mohr's .763 and will be a defensive upgrade.  Addition by subtraction.

The staff was 3rd in the league with a 3.33 ERA last year and features perhaps the league's best big-innings middle reliever in Wayne Counsel.  He threw 165 innings and posted 4 wins, 18 saves  and a 2.02 while setting a new career best with a 0.93 WHIP. The big question is whether they can replace Buhner and Hubbard - imho, Buhner had over-achieved and Hubbard was disappointing.  So I'm on board with the subtraction plan.  Season 30 IFA Donaldo Uribe looks risky but gets a crack at one of the open starter spots.  Morehead probably gets the first shot at the other and he will test the pitches vs. splits debate.

The Braves made some gutsy moves, especially in the face of Houston's big remake...we'll see if subtraction wins. 

St. Louis Cardinals

Season 35:  78-84

GM:  jclarkbaker

Offseason:  Lost FA OF Yuuta Abe (.243/11/53).  Released C Chris Richardson (.211/8/28), OF Tori Rose (.245/0/13), and RP Bronson Mouton (1-1, 4.56 ERA in 47 IP).

Signed this year's top (or at least most expensive) free agent, Julio Nunez.

Outlook:  The Cards were 4th in ERA last year and 15th in runs, so the signing of Nunez was a big deal. He'll be a big boost to their 14th-ranked OBP (.299), and his power stroke is likely to recover to the 25-35 HR range.

Regardless of Nunez' output, this team will live or die on its pitching.  Season 30 #14 Esteban Mateo has established himself as a legit ace with 29 wins in his first 2 seasons, and vets like Dick Pederson (13-6, 3.66) are still going strong.

Here's more from GM jclarkbaker:

"Last year our pitching was great, our offense stunk. So I signed Julio Nunez (RF) and traded for Jake Treanor (C) .  Will be bringing up Maicer Cedeno (2B) , Larry Clark (RF) , Ross Cook (P) , and Alen Johnson (P). I’m thinking our pitching stays the same or even improves, and we score more runs. Simple, right?

Florida Marlins

Season 35:  66-96

GM: cyben5150

Outlook:  For this one we got an extensive preview from the owner, so take it away, cyben:

"My starting line up for my first six ST games is my initial take on the regular-season starting line up minus platoons. I will probably have some form of three man platoon at CF/2B between Priddy, Bazardo, and Felipe Padilla (SS) and at least one platoon for 1B/COF.

'For pitchers, Sammy Olivo, Gil Oberg, and Harry Kramer are my current candidates to round out my rotation. Those three plus the four implied promotions of positional players and possible call up of Butch Evans puts me at 28; will figure out the cuts when my hand is forced. 

'This offseason was about attempting to get better while getting younger. Pitching wise, I sent 80% of my rotation packing (not how I would like expiring contracts and arb years to align, but that's life). In essence I am banking on the production of Amaro (36 years old), Olmeda (36), Reed (31), and Cashman (30), being roughly equaled by Kramer (22), Oberg (21), Olivo (21), and FA pick-up Urbina (33) or some other as yet undetermined permutation. 

'The three young guys will struggle some I'm sure but offer much better long term potential and it isn't inconceivable that they outperform them this season. 

'On the offensive side of the ball, my relevant losses were Clark, Abreu, and Pederson. I will admit, I was somewhat banking on someone sleeping in player protection for Rule V and getting a solid ML bat that way, but we did a good job as a league this year. In hindsight, I think letting Abreu go may have been a mistake, but with three guys vying for time at 2B/CF already someone was going to be the odd man out; should have held him another year and reassessed next season. 

'In hindsight, I also underestimated Clark; I had been viewing his performance in the broader context of my HBD experience rather than within this world's specific offensive trends. Regardless, I've got about six guys vying for time at 1B and COF spots with Mullen the only guy I'm sold on so far (possible platoon for at least one of the other spots). 

'There is some potential here though; the starting line up has five guys with eye ratings over 80 and the lowest of the starting eight is 63; we should be able to work counts, wear down pitchers, and draw walks. There are two guys with 90+ power and two more with 80+ power. If I can get better than 100 HR combined from these guys and draw walks at a decent clip I should be able to score some runs, though our strikeouts and batting average will be pretty bad. 

'Regardless, "draw walks, hit homers" is a step towards an offensive identity which is more than this team has had over the past few years. Check back at the end of the year though; with a projected 40% or so of my 25 man being made up of rookies either this will be a team that outperforms expectations and has a young core upon which I can build or this may top my earlier response of failed HBD strategies: Youth Gone Wrong."

Division Outlook:

I love Houston's off-season moves and it's hard to see anyone knocking them off.  Atlanta will be an interesting team to watch...they have to be favored to take a wild card but nothing is assured in the tough NL.  The Cardinals will no doubt improve but by how much.  And it's just a matter of time before Florida starts contending.  One of our more fun divisions.

Season 36 NL West Preview

San Diego Padres

Season 35:  71-91
GM:  cwaldenj

Offseason: lost C Bonk Christian, RP Mat Grabowski, and SP Hi Reid in FA. Released RP Branden Wilkerson, RP Marvin Diaz, and C Yuniesky Rios.  Signed FA RP J.J. Bibby, RP Freddy Connor, SP Spike O'Brien, C Harry Ugueto, SP Cesar Carrera, and OF Joe Hughes.  Promoted 1B Odrisamer Ortiz and OF Alberto Mercado.

Outlook:  The Pads were "significantly runs-challenged" last year (#16 in the NL with 492 runs), and their off-season moves aren't going to help a lot. Of the lineup moves they made, I like the Rule V pick of Ortiz (#6 in the Rule V, originally a 3rd-rounder), although maybe some of those all-or-nothing power hitters like Mercado and Harry Moreno will get hot and carry the team for awhile.

Although it's partially a result of their park, the pitching fared better last year with a 3.61 ERA (8th in NL...3.15 at home, 4.11 away).  Roland Hoover (13-10, 2.80 ERA) and Jerome Speaker (13-11, 2.83 ERA) led the way, and may typify the type of pitcher to use in San Diego - cheap and decent-not-great ratings - at least during the rebuilding phase.

By the way, are they rebuilding?  I think so - they've got the payroll under $50MM and are shepherding their eleven (11) 1st-round draft picks from the last 2 drafts toward the majors.  Meanwhile, they're keeping it competitive.

Colorado Rockies
Season 35: 88-74, won Division, lost to Houston in 2nd Round
GM: grapeape

Offseason:   Lost always-a-closer-candidate-but-never-a-closer Adrian Beck, backup SS Neifi Johnson, #4-type SP Wladimir Diaz and C Enrique Osuna to FA.  Grade on losses:  mild damage

Signed 2B Paulo Abreau (.769 OPS) and RP Manny Bong (5-5, 5.75 ERA) in FA.  Promoted RP Roybell (best rookie first name) Robinson (Season 31 10th round).    Grade on additions: fair

Overall Offseason Grade: C+


Outlook:  The  Rockies have a nice little dynasty brewing.  They've won 86+ games 8 straight years, been to the playoffs in 7 of those, and won the West 4 of the last 5.  But since taking the Rays to 7 games in the Season 30 WS, they've won exactly one (1) playoff series.  Can they break through in the brutally competitive NL?

The Rockies are pretty good at almost everything. Their 6th-ranked offense (724 runs) runs on theft (196 SB's led the NL); then 1B Orval Miller and 3B James Bacsik drive home the felons (their 235 RBI was 33% of the team's total...seems like a lot although I really don't know how it compares).

Their usually-reliable pitching had some problems in S35 (10th in NL ERA).  Staff ace Stubby George did his usual excellent thing (15-11, 2.88, but starters Miguel Urbina (70 points over career ERA) and Wandy Mateo (50 points over career ERA) really struggled, and now Mateo is out for a good chunk of this year.  Even with Mateo out, expect a return to the upper half of the NL in Team ERA.

Colorado plays solid but not spectacular defense, posting a .985 fielding percentage and a 61/24 difference on good/bad plays.  2-time GG 1B Miller erases quite a few bad throws with his glove (22+ plays).

San Francisco Giants
Season 35:  75-87
GM:  bigthrowsie

Offseason: Lost LF Julio Nunez, backup OF Yuniesky Nunez and 2B Bill Matthews to FA.  Grade on losses: unmitigated disaster (although not the fault of current management...previous management inexplicably took Nunez to arbitration 3 times, and he predictably flipped SF the finger on his way out the door).

Signed C Enrique Osuna (.232/14/52), OF Mitchell Pederson (.227/26/77), and most of their own free agents.  Grade on additions:  uninspiring, but we'll see

Overall off-season grade: F, but 98% of that belongs to the previous management's bungling of Nunez.

Outlook:  Despite the angst surrounding the Nunez departure, this is still a team that won 75 games last year, and still has talent from the 3 straight 96+ win teams of a few years back.

The present and future of the Giants' offense belongs to LF Douglas Lindor and CF Yamil Pinto, the prime dividends of the Season 33 surrender trade of ace Maicer Comacho to the Nationals.  Paco Sandoval is a solid power-hitting infielder, although he might fit better in a more generous hitter's ballpark.  And 1B Yorvit Gomez (just re-signed) remains an underrated gem with his lifetime .384 OBP.

I like the rotation front 3 of Santos, Tavarez and Palmeiro.  I like the just re-signed Slick Adkinsson and Wolf Sauer much less (especially at those prices), although to be fair, they have both performed very well for Giants fans (3.58 and 3.28 career ERA's respectively).  If all 5 of the starters put together pretty good seasons, this team could enjoy a pitching ranking as high as the top 5 or 6.

The Giants enjoy a pretty solid defense anchored by 3-time GG shortstop Renyel Ozuna.  I don't know if he can still contend for GG's, but he'll keep the infield defense stable for the next couple of years.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Season 35:  76-86
GM: captain10a

Offseason:  In free agency, lost Freddy Conner (5-2, 4.17), 1B Doug Hines (.259/15/48), RP Rodney Stuart (5-3, 5.25), and IF Juan Cordero (.294/11/44).  Grade on losses: nothing of consequence

Signed CF Benny Vincente (.235/0/12, 24 SB) and a couple of their own FA's.  Grade on the 1 addition: B+

Overall off-season grade: A (if what I think they've done is correct) 

Outlook:  The Dodgers appear to have improved their team defense dramatically just by putting the correct players in the correct positions (I say "appear" because it's not certain until they actually do it in the regular season).  Last year, shortstop was mostly a debacle shared by natural 3B Andrew Wathan (.953 fielding %, 13 bad plays) and natural 2B/3B/CF Kosuke Takada (.935 fielding %).  When light-hitting Fernando Thomas manned SS, he managed a .981 fielding % and 6 good plays.  Good move #1: it looks like they've turned over SS to Thomas.  Good move #2:  signing Benny Vincente to play CF.  Last year's CF position wasn't as big a mess as SS, but it could use improving (Takada and Quentin Blair combined for 11 bad plays, and Blair kicked it around to the tune of a .932 fielding %). Vincente will fix all that.  If Vincente hits nothing and they need runs, they can turn to Season 31 IFA Jair Cortez in CF - he's pretty much a clone of Takada defensively and will outhit Vincente by a mile.

Hitting and pitching-wise, I expect the Dodgers to come in about where they did last year - upper 2nd-half for both.  But with a much-improved defense and a few breaks, LA could surprise.

Division Outlook:  I like the Rockies to repeat again, although I it wouldn't surprise me if either the Giants or Dodgers or both made a race of it.  It's probably going to be easier to win this division than claim a wild card.

Intro to new old owner crabman26

1. Who is crabman26 in real life? 
Rich Rice, currently residing in beautiful Hood River, Oregon after moving here from Maryland this past summer. Huge Orioles and Ravens fan, and I guess now a Portland Trailblazer fan since thats the only real sports team we have here (I don't count Soccer). I work as a Facilities Manager at a community health center running renovations/ new construction/ facility upgrades.

2. Cubs or Indians? Why? 
I guess I would pick the Cubs, Cleveland already won a championship recently in b-ball and I am tired of hearing about the lovable losers, so let them win one finally! I honestly dont care though who wins, Id be happy for the Indians as well.


3. Best and worst HBD moments? 
Best - Taking over teams in World American Pastime and Kinsella that at the time never had a season over .500 and building both of them into World Series winners. Worst - HBD has now taken all the fun out of the draft, to the point I basically punt the draft now and that used to be my favorite part of this game. Also, my current team in World NCAA II seems to be in a forever purgatory that I can't fix...very embarrassing so far!

4. HBD strategem you tried that didn't work?
I tried a strategy of getting the high split ratings for hitters while ignoring Contact and BE for a brief period of time. The results were way too unpredictable from season to season with those players and when they were bad, they were bad.

Season 36 NL North Preview

Montreal Expos

Season 35: 91-71, lost to Houston in Round 1

GM: BastanRedsox

The Offseason:  Shook things up by trading coveted OF Leonardo Grimm to Seattle for SP Mitch Lee, and slugger Danny Barr and reliever Yunesky Baez to Houston for OF/1B Vin Almonte and  RP Mitch Mirabelli.  Free agency took a heavy toll this year, with ace SP Jim Colin jumping to Houston and 2B Miguel Arias leaving for Tampa Bay.  They countered in FA by signing SP Paxton Buhner (lifetime 3.32 ERA) and C Jose Gongora (lifetime .295 BA).

Outlook: Montreal led the NL in runs last year (799), but it's hard to see that happening when 3 of their top 5 OPS'ers (Barr, Arias and Grimm) have moved on.  2B looks like it might be a shared arrangement between defensive wiz Cesar Nicasio and the more offensively-talented Felipe Flores.  The arrangement may work out OK (especially in the budget department, as both are minimum-salary), but it won't produce runs the way Arias did.  They didn't really replace Barr, as most of his action last year came as a RF replacement for Orlando Figueroa. Backup or not, they'll miss the 23 longballs. Almonte is essentially an older, right-handed version of Grimm, so they replaced that production.  Still a good offense with those guys plus 1B Wesley Duffy (.274/25/88) and CF Jordy Pierre (.288/24/76).

I don't know what to make of Paxton Buhner.  I look at this ratings and don't expect to check his stats and find a career 3.32 ERA.  OK, 8 years pitching in ultra pitcher-friendly San Diego, but he did almost as well for 2 years in neutral Atlanta.  You never know, but I'd expect his ratings to eventually catch up with him.  Lee looks pretty good, but he's also benefitted from a big ballpark (Seattle) and it remains to be seen if he can really handle lefties.  Their other 3 starters (Stroman, James and Ross), all had better seasons last year than their career norms (in a year when their overall pitching ranked 13th in NL).

So, their pitching looks like a risk.  It could well be OK, but I'd guess it still come in in the lower half of the league.

Chicago Cubs

Season 35: 71-91

GM: helop

The Offseason:  They only lost some over-the-hill pitchers and backup C Jumbo Diaz in FA, and signed C Jamie Shibata and short reliever Malcolm Buxton.

Outlook:  The future is now for the Cubbies; slugger deluxe Walker Brooks has 4-5 prime years left, gets another lineup compliment this year in Adrian Garcia (Season 32's #5 overall pick), and has a pair of nice young starters at the top of the rotation (Alex Lloyd - probably the best pitcher in the Season 31 draft at #7 - and Nelson Jenkins).  Season 32's #4 overall, LF Reggie Hunter, had a very nice 266/31/90 as as a rookie; he'd be a real monster at 2B but they're an OF short of being able to do so.  In the meantime, Luigi Merced is adequate at 2B.  They also have to like what CF Steve Mench has done his first 2 seasons.  There was doubt about whether his range would play in CF, but he's been OK on +/- split and caught everything he's gotten to.  I know they only scored 629 runs last year, but I think this lineup is ready to go well beyond that.

After Lloyd and Jenkins, unfortunately, the pitching is a black hole.  There are a bunch of guys who have 1 good year out of 3 (Rocky Clinton ERA last 3 years: 4.35, 3.36, 5.12) and you never know which year this is.  The Cubbies were dead last in ERA last year...they could be better this year but it would register as a mild surprise.

Milwaukee Brewers

Season 35: 70-92

GM:  mjdato

The Offseason:  This offseason was about dropping payroll as the rebuild continues under mjdato.  The Brewcrew let 3 starting pitchers go (Doug Mateo, Al Polonia and Geraldo Iglesias) and replaced them with youngish holdovers...no free agents this year.

Outlook:  Let's face it, this year will be rough (keep that minimum win requirement in mind, mjdato).  But a bright future is already in sight, thanks to 4 seasons of good drafting and a bargain on a star IFA:

Season 35:  landed 3 #1's including #9 Nestor Bautista

Season 34:  Scored Ernest Chamberlain at #1 and added another supplemental #1

Season 33:  oops, whiffed on #4 Jorge Campos

Season 32:  Five #1's from #'s 13 to 42

And in Season 33, for the bargain price of $10MM, they signed monster IFA pitcher Salvador Johnson ***

By Season 38, Milwaukee could have a front 3 of Johnson***, Chamberlain and Bautista, and have about another dozen #1's on the ML roster. 

***yep, I missed that low durability, so he won't be a starter, and won't even get many innings as a reliever, but you still gotta love an arm like that

Cincinnati Reds

Season 35: 75-87

GM: wrecks

The Offseason:  Released pitchers Brad Knight, Furio Jefferson and Bob Philips; traded 3B Melvin Becker to Seattle for P Lyle Bush; signed P Cliff Smith; promoted 2B Enrique Johnson (Season 32 IFA).

Outlook: Speaking of rebuilds, look no further than here for one that's about to come to fruition.  After 6 years in the desert, Cincy is just about ready to unleash hell on the rest of us.
The Reds won 75 last year, and that was with prized #1 Stan Robinson struggling (.235/20/50).  Look for a vast improvement in his sophomore campaign. Likewise ace starter Pablo Suarez, who didn't really struggle at 11-10, 3.12 but can be even better.  We'll likely see C Cecil Dougherty (Season 32 #3) and Thomas Seanez (Season 32 IFA) at Game 20, and there's a boatload of ace prospects still in the low minors.

I don't know if the big breakthrough is coming this year or next, but the NL North status quo will be shaken up soon.

The Division Race: One of the tougher calls, as it looks like the Expos will fall off some and the Reds and Cubs are charging.  I'm going out on a limb and predicting Cincinnati will nip Montreal in a squeaker.

Season 36 AL South Preview

Kansas City Royals

Season 35: 77-85
GM: tdfactory


Offseason: Lost their top home run hitter (32) Orlando James to FA (Toronto) and released 3B Adys Bethancourt.  Signed 3B/OF Jin-Chi Donald and SP Zach Lennon to FA contracts.

Outlook:  After winning 86 and 91 in the first 2 seasons of the tdfactory era, the Royals face a crossroads after seasons of 78 and 77 wins.  The Season 35 offense was competent with 726 runs (7th in AL), but the pitching imploded with a 4.74 Team ERA despite sterling defense behind them.

Donald will be an obvious upgrade over Bethancourt; I think they'll sorely miss James' power, but the offense should still be OK with aging but still-potent pros like Henry Mercedes and Rabbit Grilli in the lineup.

Pitching will be a different story; Lennon's not likely to offer much help and they can't bank on Kent Pederson and Spud Bando to spin up sub-4.00 ERA's again.  Tony Rivera is among the league's
best relievers, but can only go so many innings.

Even with a payroll approaching $118MM, the Royals are going nowhere this season.  Next year is their last big payment to Grilli, so this year and next may see some dramatic departures.  Watch for Mercedes, Rivera and CF Kyle Lintz to be prominently mentioned at the trade deadline.

Tampa Bay Rays

Season 35: 90-72, won Division for 3rd straight year and 10th time in 11 seasons. Lost in playoffs to Boston in 2nd round.
GM: jthornton75

Offseason:  Landed one of the top hitters in free agency in Miguel Arias (formerly of Montreal). Arias is one of the rarest commodities in the game -  a lefty-swinging, power-hitting (43 long balls last year), good defensive infielder.   He replaces Juan Park (off to Seattle) in the lineup and represents a good upgrade both on offense and defense.  The Rays also added SP Ed Reed (Florida), RP Adrian Beck (Colorado) and 3B Walker Cather (Houston) in a very active free agent season.



Outlook:  Arias will be a much-needed addition (at least for a couple of seasons) to the offense, which was a little under the AL average last year.1B Chris Freel led the team in OPS last year with .821, and I'd give 10-to-1 he won't be better than that this year.  Eugenio Tejada offers some bonus power (26 HR, .800 OPS), but overall I'd guess they'll be run-challenged again.  The pitching was 4th with a 3.92 ERA, and it's where the stars are.  Max Mullens had a monster Season 35 (23-9, 2.80 ERA, 254 IP) and will be looking to repeat and nail down his last monster contract.  He's capably complimented by 1-inning specialist Brady Rapp, the effectively-wild Harry Prado, and the even-more-effectively-wild J.R. Voight.

Texas Rangers

Season 35: 67-95
GM:  bperkins

Offseason: Some minor free agent comings and goings, but the major improvements (or lack thereof) for this team will come from the dividends of last year's trade of Walter Brooks to the Cubs.  The biggest name, Antonio Washington (Season 31 #10 overall), debuted with a promising 3.28 ERA in 85 innings last year.  Relievers Ernest Black (Season 32 #65) and Dellin Vega (Season 34 IFA) could the the call at game 20 this year.

Outlook:  Everything took a step backwards last year with the Brooks trade, but there's talent here.  New 3B Joseph Cho hit .375 in a 56-AB cup of coffee last year.  1B McNicoll and DH Logan are solid hitters, and the enigmatic LF, Harry Ruiz, OPS'd .916 as recently as Season 34 (and is still just 26).  Not a sure thing by any means, but they could eclipse last year's 649 runs (13th in AL) by a lot. With Max Basile and Macbeth Kohlmeier at the top of the rotation and Washington getting 120 IP in multiple roles, maybe this is the year the Rangers' pitching breaks through.  The rest of the staff looks a little shaky; if they bring up Black and Vega at Game 20, Texas' pitching just might crack the top 7 or 8.

Nashville Sounds

Season 35: 71-91
GM:  fallball

Offseason:  No free agent moves for the Sounds...they promoted a couple of minor-leaguers to compliment last year's bumper crop of rookies.  They did lose 3B Lenny Taylor (San Diego), who posted a more than competent .757 OPS.

Outlook:  Nashville's offense surged to tie for 5th in runs last year (732) behind AL ROY Gus Kirby's .331/24/88 (with help from 4 other players who hit 20+ home runs).  Taylor's likely hot corner replacement is Vinny Karl, who got 373 AB's last year playing 7 different positions.  Ringo Frye secured the SS position for the forseeable future with his Gold Glove performance.  Currently there are only 12 position players on the roster; they'll probably add an OF or 2 somehow during Spring Training.

The Sounds' pitching was dead last in the AL with a 4.87 ERA, and they have pretty much the sam staff entering tis year.  They did promote Jolbert Montero (after 4 seasons no higher than High A); needless to say, he's not the answer.

The offense will be pretty entertaining, but another long year in Music City.

DIVISION PREDICTION:  Tampa Bay wins it again; Texas makes a little run at them and finishes 2nd.